Interview: Why is a high seas treaty crucial for marine biodiversity?

euronews (in English)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has played a central role in the sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Minna Epps, Director of the IUCN Ocean Team, shared her insights with Euronews.

Transcript

00:00 The agreement of the High Seas Biodiversity Treaty really shows us that multilateralism still exists, it still works.

00:07 We are facing global problems and we need global solutions.

00:10 64% of the ocean is beyond national jurisdiction. That is the high seas.

00:18 And up until now, it hasn't been completely lawless, but the legal framework has been very fragmented.

00:24 So there's different bodies coming different parts.

00:27 The High Seas Biodiversity Treaty

00:30 Once this treaty enters into force, what it will be able to do, it will be able to establish marine protected areas.

00:46 It will also be able to conduct environmental impact assessment according to global standards.

00:52 It also looks at access and benefit sharing of marine genetic resources.

00:57 And the fourth element of this treaty looks at capacity building and the transfer of marine technology.

01:03 The race for ratification is on. I think countries feel the pressure.

01:11 I mean, I was there when this treaty was being negotiated and just feeling from the energy and optimism in the room.

01:17 And I think it also links to other multilateral environmental agreements.

01:22 We have the Cungming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in December 2022,

01:28 when more than 190 countries came together and said, we need to protect at least 30% of the land and it also includes the sea.

01:36 In order to get there by 2030, we do need a High Seas Biodiversity Treaty to get there.

01:44 The High Seas Biodiversity Treaty

01:50 The High Seas Biodiversity Treaty

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